Bangladesh women clinch T20 Asia Cup title

An all-round effort by Bangladesh women's national team players guided them to a historic three-wicket win over India in the final to clinch their maiden Twenty20 Asia Cup title at Kinrara Oval, Malaysia on Sunday.

President Abdul Hamid and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Sunday greeted the Bangladesh women cricket team for clinching the title. Chasing a modest target of 113 runs, Bangla-desh reached 113-7 in the final delivery after restricting India to 112-9 in 20 overs.

Bangladesh needed nine runs to win in the final over and despite losing two wickets of Sanjida Islam and Rumana Ahmed they kept their heads cool to score two runs in the final ball to win the first major trophy in history.

Nigar Sultana top scored with 27 off 24 Balls while openers Ayasha Rahman and Shamima Sultana contributed 17 and 16 runs respectively.Rumana Ahmed also made 23 off 22 balls."We are very happy that we have won the Asia Cup," skipper Salma Khatun said after the win.

 "I can't explain in words how big this win means to us,'' said Salma."We had confidence after the first India match, and we had to come through today because it was the final and we are happy we came through,'' Salma said.

"They had a lot to lose and we didn't. We had a lot to gain, and we have managed to do that. We feel good that we had a lot of supporters here, and thanks to all the supporters here who have supported us," she said ''We started poorly in the tournament and we are happy to have made a comeback and won all matches. So for the upcoming matches, we will try to continue our good form." Salma added.

Bangladeshi openers gave them a solid start as they scored 35 runs before Poonam Yadav dismissed both the openers in successive deliveries to bring India back in the contest.Poonam finished with 4-9 but it was not enough to halt Bangladesh's successful chase.

Earlier, Indian skipper Harmanpreet Kaur struck 56 off 42 balls and fought a lone battle after Bangladeshi bowlers provided excellent bowling display to hold India to 74-7 in 15 overs.Khadija Tul Kubra and Rumana Ahmed bagged two wickets each while Salma Khatun and Jahanara Alam picked up one wicket apiece.

Sending India to bat first, Bangladesh got an early breakthrough when Smriti Mandhana (seven) was run out in the fourth over.Pacer Jahanara removed Deepti Sharma for four while Kubra dismissed Mithali (11) to halt India to 28-3 in the eighth over.

Anuja Patil (three) followed them soon as she got out with an unconventional way after trying to obstruct the field.
Veda Krishnamurthy and Jhulan Goswami contributed 11 and 10 runs respectively but it was skipper Kaur who hit seven fours to take India over 100-run mark.

Rumana Ahmed was adjudged player of the final.Bangladesh made their presence felt in the Asia Cup after they defeated Pakistan and India in the group phase that eased off their way into the final.